With Georgia hunting seasons approaching, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters to make sure they have completed required hunter education before heading to the woods or purchasing a season hunting license.
Governor Brian Kemp has officially proclaimed August 2026 as Shooting Sports Month in Georgia, recognizing the state’s long-standing hunting traditions, recreational shooting opportunities, and the economic impact of the industry. The proclamation encourages Georgians of all experience levels to safely enjoy shooting sports throughout the month.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division is encouraging residents to visit one of the state’s more than 45 public archery and shooting ranges, many of which are located on Wildlife Management Areas and Public Fishing Areas. The agency also promotes firearm safety training and responsible participation in shooting sports.
According to DNR, Georgia’s shooting sports and hunting industry contributed an estimated $2.7 billion to the state’s economy in 2024 and supports nearly 11,000 jobs. In addition, Georgia received more than $19.2 million in federal wildlife conservation funding in 2025 through the Pittman-Robertson Act, which is funded by excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Those funds help support wildlife management, habitat conservation, hunter education, and public shooting ranges across the state.
The proclamation highlights the role hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts play in conservation while encouraging safe, responsible firearm ownership and recreation throughout the month of August.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division has released the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons Guide, giving hunters and anglers an updated resource ahead of the upcoming outdoor seasons.
Georgia hunters can begin applying today for a variety of quota hunts through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division.
Georgia hunters will soon be able to apply for a variety of quota hunts as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources prepares for the upcoming hunting season.
Georgia hunters are preparing for the start of spring turkey season, with the statewide opener on private land set for Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Youth and mobility-impaired hunters in Georgia will get an early start to turkey season during a special hunt set for March 21-22, 2026, on private lands. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division says the opportunity allows eligible hunters to harvest a gobbler before the statewide season officially opens.
Deer hunters across Northwest Georgia are heading into the final stretch of the season, with firearms deer season ending Sunday, January 11, 2026, in most of Georgia. (A limited number of counties in the southern part of the state have an extended firearms season that runs a few extra days.)
With the calendar turning toward mid-January, deer hunters across Northwest Georgia are in the final stretch of the 2025–26 season, and Georgia DNR is reminding sportsmen to double-check dates, follow county rules, and make safety a top priority in the woods.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division has received notification of a preliminary positive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) test result for a deer in Atkinson County. (For reference, Atkinson County is roughly 260 miles from Chattooga County.)